Drones are remote-controlled, usually small aircraft. Legally they are equivalent to model aircraft and are considered to be radio equipment. The number of drones operated commercially and privately in Switzerland is continuously increasing.
The Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) is responsible for the development of aviation and the supervision of civil aviation in Switzerland:
Drones fall within OFCOM’s area of responsibility with regard to regulation of the frequency spectrum and of radio equipment if they contain a radio transmitter and or receiver
- Drones must fulfil the legal requirements for spectrum and equipment conformity before they can be offered or may be made available on the market
- OFCOM issues licenses for the use of the frequency spectrum by radio equipment and radio networks.
Specialist contact for frequencies and radio licenses:
Compliance of drones
A drone – provided that it contains a radio transmitter and/or receiver - is a radio equipment. The legal requirements for market access (e.g. offering, selling, hiring, placing on the market) and the conformity of radio equipment are described here.
Information on buying radio equipment abroad for personal use or resale in Switzerland can be found here.
Technical contact for market access and conformity:
Use of frequency resources
Frequencies are required for command and control applications and for the transmission of user data as well as for traffic information and collision avoidance systems
The available frequencies usually have to be shared with other users. Since no dedicated frequency resources are currently available for drones, interference-free operation cannot be guaranteed. Work is currently underway at the international level to resolve this issue.
Frequency resources for control and communication (command and control) and for the transmission of payload data
Various frequency ranges are available for command and control applications and for user data transmission (ground-to-air/air-to-ground). Their use is subject to specific regulatory framework requirements (radio interface regulations (RIR)):
- 34.995 – 35.225 MHz
RIR1007-02 - 2400 - 2483.5 MHz
RIR1008-11
- 2400 - 2483.5 MHz
RIR1010-01 - 5170 - 5250 MHz
RIR1010-05 - 5725 - 5875 MHz
RIR1008-12
No license, prior notification or certificate of proficiency is required for the above frequency usage.
Frequency resources for traffic information and collision avoidance
The frequencies used for this purpose are subject to certain regulatory framework requirements (radio interface regulations (RIR)):
- 868 – 868,6 MHz
RIR1008-06
No license, prior notification or certificate of proficiency is required for the above frequency usage.
Directive on the use of transponders and ADS-B for drones and model aircraft
Applicants are requested to contact FOCA rpas@bazl.admin.ch with a request for transponder and ADS-B use on a drone. For more information on the FOCA website: Operational Authorization based on SORA
Once FOCA has authorized the use of the transponder and ADS-B on the drone (by allocating the 24-bit address (ICAO code)), the applicant has to apply for the notification of the radio equipment at: Notify radio equipment in an aircraft - Detailed information | eGovernment DETEC.
The frequency used for this purpose are subject to certain regulatory framework requirements (radio interface regulations (RIR)):
- 960 - 1164 MHz
RIR0103-05
For questions about the use of the eGovernment portal, you can you also contact OFCOM directly kf-fk@bakom.admin.ch
Frequency resources for detection
No frequencies are currently available in Switzerland for the detection of drones. However, work is underway to identify frequencies for this application. As soon as these have been completed, the regulatory framework (radio interface regulations (RIR)) will be defined.
Use of mobile radio frequencies
In principle, the use of mobile radio spectrum is limited to terrestrial applications.
Investigations have been undertaken at European level to allow the operation of aerial user equipment (UE) either on board an unmanned aircraft (e.g., drones) or on board a manned aircraft (e.g., helicopters), mainly for professional purposes. The results were published by the Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) in two reports: in ECC Report 309 and ECC Report 348. The findings of the reports were used to develop the ECC Decision (22)07, which outlines the technical requirements for using aerial UE for communication based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) and 5G New Radio (5G NR) in specific frequency bands for mobile/fixed communications networks (MFCN). The decision still requires further studies and procedures for implementation at the national level.
OFCOM is currently analysing and discussing the implications of implementing the ECC Decision (22)07 in Switzerland. Until the decision is not implemented into the national framework (namely NaFZ), the use of MFCN frequencies for aerial UE is not permitted in Switzerland. Nevertheless, a trial licence can be requested to OFCOM for trials with aerial UE at MFCN frequencies. Please be advised that there is no entitlement to the granting of such a licence.
International bodies
ECC Project Team 1 - ECC - Groups - ECC - ECC PT1 - News (cept.org)
The Project Team is examining, among other things, the issues due to usage of aerial UE in border areas. As well as preparing a response to the European Commission Mandate regarding harmonised technical and operational conditions for the usage of non-active antenna systems with aerial terminal stations in harmonised MFCN bands.
Last modification 25.09.2024